Rationale
(Changed due to Same category and criteria)
Widespread and abundant across South Africa hence is assessed regionally as Least Concern.
Distribution
Occurs throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and extends to the Arabian Peninsula (Broadley 1990, Spawls and Branch 1995). Very widespread in the South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini (Swaziland) region, avoiding only the driest desert and the highest mountains (Branch 1998, Bates et al. 2014).
Fear-driven persecution of this snake by humans is the main threat as people usually kill them whenever they are encountered.
Uses and trade
The species is known from the traditional medicine trade in South Africa (Whiting et al. 2011). It is used elsewhere across its range for food and traditional medicine.
Conservation
The species is recorded from many protected areas across its wide range and no species-specific conservation actions are in place and none are needed.
[@article{2274,
author = {Whiting, M.J., Williams, V.L. and Hibbitts, T.J.},
journal = {Journal of Zoology},
pages = {84--96},
title = {Animals traded for traditional medicine at the Faraday market in South Africa: species diversity and conservation implications},
volume = {284},
year = {2011}
}
,@book{612,
address = {Pretoria},
author = {Bates, M.F., Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M., Burger, M., Marais, J., Alexander, G.J. and de Villiers, M.S.},
publisher = {Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute},
title = {Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland},
year = {2014}
}
,@book{2817,
address = {Cape Town},
author = {Branch, W.R.},
publisher = {Struik Publishers},
title = {Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Edition},
year = {1998}
}
,@book{2817,
address = {Cape Town},
author = {Marais, J.},
publisher = {Struik},
title = {A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa},
year = {2004}
}
,@book{2817,
address = {Frankfurt, Germany},
author = {Phelps, T.},
publisher = {Chimaira},
title = {Old World Vipers. A natural history of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae},
year = {2009}
}
,@book{10242,
address = {Parklands, South Africa},
author = {Broadley, D.G.},
publisher = {Jonathan Ball and Ad. Donker Publishers},
title = {FitzSimons' Snakes of Southern Africa},
year = {1990}
}
,@book{110133193,
address = {Halfway House, South Africa},
author = {Spawls, S. and Branch, W.R.},
publisher = {Southern Book Publishers},
title = {The Dangerous Snakes of Africa},
year = {1995}
}
,@article{197461,
author = {Branch, W.R.},
journal = {African Journal of Herpetology},
number = {1-2},
pages = {15--19},
title = {<i>Bitis arietans peghullae</i> Stewart 1973 (Serpentes: Viperidae): a valid race of puff adder?},
volume = {48},
year = {1999}
}
,@article{197461,
author = {Lenk, P., Herrmann, H.W., Joger, U. and Wink, M.},
journal = {Kaupia (Darmstadt)},
pages = {31--38},
title = {Phylogeny and taxonomic subdivision of <i>Bitis</i> (Reptilia: Viperidae) based on molecular evidence},
volume = {8},
year = {1999}
}
,@proceedings{197461,
address = {Calci (Pisa, Italy) 31st March–2nd April 2010},
editor = {Barlow, A., Phelps, T., Baker, K.H., Peppin, L., Hendry, C.R. and Wüster, W.},
series = {Abstract Book: 3rd Biology of the Vipers Conference},
title = {The genetic signature of past climate change in a widespread African viper: Phylogeography of the puff adder, <i>Bitis arietans</i> (abstract)},
year = {2010}
}
,]